Immigration reform has been a top priority for the White House, but the recent setbacks of the Obama administration, as well as the politically charged gridlock on Capitol Hill, have brought key legislation to a near standstill.

Viewers in some quarters watch in dismay while reform speed grinds to a halt. But Indian information technology companies, heavily reliant on a steady, unrestricted supply of the H-1B and L1 visas threatened by the proposed legislation, may be able to continue reaping the benefits of these visas.

Most political analysts viewed this fall’s debt ceiling battle in Washington — in which congressional Republicans unsuccessfully attempted to link approval of a higher debt ceiling in return for changes to the Affordable Care Act (ACA) — as a victory for President Obama and congressional Democrats.

The Oval Office won political capital over the government shutdown, but it has largely dissipated in the wake of troubling developments for the White House. These include the scandal over U.S. security’s wiretapping of allied government leaders and strong resistance from Congress on sanctions against Iran.

But the biggest embarrassments for the president have concerned his signature ACA, beginning with numerous technological problems on the federal exchange website, continuing in an admission from the president that a key promise on insurance coverage was not kept and culminating with his subsequent repositioning call to reinstate thousands of cancelled health insurance policies on November 14.

As the White House’s hand weakens, the president and congressional Democrats have not been able to advance the Border Security, Economic Opportunity and Immigration Modernization Act of 2013 in the face of stiff opposition from the Republican-controlled House.

With fewer than 14 calendar days left in the current congressional session, the opportunity for passage of the bill to step up restrictions on H-1B and L1 visas is steadily evaporating. All of this means that Indian IT firms, fearful that punitive measures like higher visa fees would be enacted, can breathe a sigh of relief — at least in the short term.